"Alebrijes" are wood figures, very traditional from oaxacan handscraft, which represent animals or fantastic creatures handpainted in bright colors. Although the alebrije concept was not born in Oaxaca, this state adopted and developed them in a fantastic way. Alebrijes represent the innovative and surreal soul of Oaxacan people, who form these figures out of green wood, carving it with rustic machetes and knives, and then painting them by hand.